Live From the Emerald Princess 10/15/21 LA-Port Everglades Panama Cruise

[rideev]

5 hours ago, memoak said:

What inquiring minds want to know is how this is actually handled on board ship

Will it be like the Airlines, and they tackle you and glue the mask to you or throw you overboard?  Or will it be like how they handled the Dining Room Dress Code?  You know, they just allowed anything goes.

 

[CineGraphic]

4 minutes ago, rideev said:

Will it be like the Airlines, and they tackle you and glue the mask to you or throw you overboard?  Or will it be like how they handled the Dining Room Dress Code?  You know, they just allowed anything goes.

 

 

From Princess.com

What happens if I don't follow the health protocols?

Anyone who doesn’t comply with the onboard public health measures may be disembarked at the first available opportunity. Other consequences could include being denied service, required stateroom isolation and being banned from sailing in the future.

If you are non-compliant, no refund of the cruise fare for unused cruise days or travel expenses (if flying home) will be covered.

If your travel party is impacted and/or they are required or voluntarily choose to leave with you, the same policies will apply to them: there will be no refund of cruise fare for unused cruise days or coverage of travel expenses home.

 

[PrincessLuver]

27 minutes ago, rideev said:

Will it be like the Airlines, and they tackle you and glue the mask to you or throw you overboard?  Or will it be like how they handled the Dining Room Dress Code?  You know, they just allowed anything goes.

 

 

Airlines have a lot more severe consequences for passengers for not complying with crew orders.  Not wearing a mask on a US airlines is considered interfering with a crew member and is a Federal Crime.

 

A conviction for Interfering with a Flight Crew Member carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years confinement and up to a $250,000 fine.  A conviction for Simple Assault carries a maximum penalty of 6 months of confinement and a $5,000.00 fine.  As you may know the airlines are becoming much more assertive in prosecuting disruptive passengers.  Also they can be banned from flying.

 

Nobody will die if someone does not follow the Princess Dining Room Suggested Dress Code.

 

 

 

Edited October 15, 2021 by PrincessLuver

[Steelers36]

3 hours ago, PrincessLuver said:

Nobody will die if someone does not follow the Princess Dining Room Suggested Dress Code.

Some past dress code threads on CC would make you wonder about that.

[gmcwalker]

It was a great first Day. I got on board about 11:15 after a short shuttle ride from the Crowne Plaza Hotel to Berth 92 where the Emerald was waiting. Very easy to get through the check-in process. There were a lot of people to help everyone regardless of their check-in status. 

I went directly to my cabin and completed the muster video and checked in at my muster station, then had a sandwich at the International Cafe and listed to a violin duo Lado Springs, play among other songs "Tequilla". 

A bit later after wandering around I met up with our CC gang and had a couple drinks and got to know each other. 

I then went up to hot tub on Deck 17 aft and relaxed. We finally shoved off at 6:15 pm after a short port delay. As we headed out into the Catalina Channel there was over 100 container ships waiting to enter the port.

I had dinner in the Botticelli dining room, met some new folks and caught the first of several shows to come, Michael Wilson Impressionist/Comedian in the theater. it was a decent show with plenty of room due to the low passenger total. 

There is a lot going on tomorrow, Ping Pong tournament, putting tournament, and the first of the Princess Olympics events a Basketball tournament.

Movies Under the Sun are Big in the morning and Ad Astra in the afternoon with Black Panther finishing up with Movies Under the stars in the evening.

Tomorrow, I see the hot tub in my future as even though it will be clear and the air temp should be in the low 70s F, the ocean is still in the low to mid 60s making for a cool breeze off the water. 

We have Captain Martin Stenzel and Cruise Director Jody Bates in charge.

We are making about 19.5 knots heading to PV and just off the Mexican coast at about Rosarita Beach as of now.

That's all for tonight.

 

Edited October 16, 2021 by gmcwalker
spelling

[Grego]

Thanks gmcwalker for doing this. We will be on the Emerald November 6th and excited to be back on board one of our favorite ships.

Keep us informed as to how they are handling the buffet and casino.

Have fun and enjoy the voyage.

[kb4683]

Thank you so much @gmcwalker for starting this thread and @PescadoAmarillo and @Luv Cruising Land or Sea for helping contribute to it.  (J, am also following your blog.)

 

I have started a thread on the Princess boards, 2021 Bar Menus, and would love it if someone could post them from the Emerald.  @HaveDogWillTravel graciously posted the menus from the Majestic, but so far we don't have any from the ships that have the more "traditional" Princess bars (think Crooners 😉).  Here is a link to the 2021 Bar Menus thread  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2805836-2021-bar-menus/.

 

49 days until we sail again 🎉

 

Thank you in advance and enjoy your cruise! 

 

[PrincessLuver]

10 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Some past dress code threads on CC would make you wonder about that.

 

Sooooo true......😅😂🤣

 

[gmcwalker]

4 hours ago, Grego said:

Keep us informed as to how they are handling the buffet and casino.

Have fun and enjoy the voyage.

The casino is masks at all times and sip and cover when having a drink. As there were very few people there I don't know if there was distancing between players.

As for the buffet you have to wash your hands at new stations by all entrances or sanitize before you can get your food. It is fully staffed minimizing passenger contact from getting your table set and plates to all hot and some cold foods that are normally self served. There is a server for all stations just about. There are some items that are already plated in single serve portions that you can grab on your own though like desserts, chopped fruit, yogurt and granola. All beverages are served by the staff. 

Time to go have breakfast.

Edited October 16, 2021 by gmcwalker

[Ken the cruiser]

12 minutes ago, gmcwalker said:

The casino is masks at all times and sip and cover when having a drink. As there were very few people there I don't know if there was distancing between players.

As for the buffet you have to wash your hands at new stations by all entrances or sanitize before you can get your food. It is fully staffed minimizing passenger contact from getting your table set and plates to all hot and some cold foods that are normally self served. There is a server for all stations just about. There are some items that are already plated in single serve portions that you can grab on your own though like desserts, chopped fruit, yogurt and granola. All beverages are served by the staff. 

Time to go have breakfast.

We’re going to be on a similar cruise in April on the Caribbean Princess and am definitely looking forward to hearing about your experiences on this cruise!

 

But I have to ask since this cruise is over 10 days in length. Does it appear everyone is following the new rules?

 

Voyages 10 days or longer:

All guests must wear face masks covering their nose and mouth while indoors at all times. Exceptions are made while they are eating or drinking, receiving spa treatments relating to the face, during high-intensity exercise, in pools, whirlpools or sauna, as well as in their stateroom.

[CruiserRob]

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We’re going to be on a similar cruise in April on the Caribbean Princess and am definitely looking forward to hearing about your experiences on this cruise!

 

But I have to ask since this cruise is over 10 days in length. Does it appear everyone is following the new rules?

 

 

Voyages 10 days or longer:

All guests must wear face masks covering their nose and mouth while indoors at all times. Exceptions are made while they are eating or drinking, receiving spa treatments relating to the face, during high-intensity exercise, in pools, whirlpools or sauna, as well as in their stateroom.

For the most part people are wearing masks when wandering about indoors.  From what I have observed the masks come off when seated in bars/lounges ie no sip and cover.

This was just the first day however.

[CruiserRob]

We received a letter that guests will be tested for COVID on the 17th and again on the 24th.

[1emerald1]

Can you tell me who the Maitre'd / Director of Restaurants is?

[MWcruiser]

Thank you to gmcwalker and other passengers for taking the time to do this Live from thread.   I always enjoy reading these and especially one from Emerald Princess which is a favorite of ours.  Also there is some learning for me and maybe others that have not yet returned to cruising but plan to do so soon.

 

We are doing an ABC cruise in January and I am wondering what the specific entry requirements for cruise passenger are for each island.  I know that you are not arriving to these islands til later in the cruise, and I am assuming there will be some onboard Covid testing prior to arrival in these ports.  I have read so much conflicting information and it is difficult to interpret the information that applies to cruise passengers on each countrys' official websites.  Please let us know if/what online forms need to be completed and if testing is required within 2-3 days of visiting any of these ports.

 

Have a great cruise!  Wish we were there.....

[azbirdmom]

3 hours ago, gmcwalker said:

The casino is masks at all times and sip and cover when having a drink. As there were very few people there I don't know if there was distancing between players.

 

Are they still allowing smoking in the casino?  They were on the Majestic in August which was a bit surprising since they stated you had to wear a mask in the casino except when drinking (or eating).

[LACruiser88]

17 minutes ago, 1emerald1 said:

Can you tell me who the Maitre'd / Director of Restaurants is?

Rui Pereira....

Edited October 16, 2021 by LACruiser88

[LreedCA]

2 hours ago, MWcruiser said:

Thank you to gmcwalker and other passengers for taking the time to do this Live from thread.   I always enjoy reading these and especially one from Emerald Princess which is a favorite of ours.  Also there is some learning for me and maybe others that have not yet returned to cruising but plan to do so soon.

 

We are doing an ABC cruise in January and I am wondering what the specific entry requirements for cruise passenger are for each island.  I know that you are not arriving to these islands til later in the cruise, and I am assuming there will be some onboard Covid testing prior to arrival in these ports.  I have read so much conflicting information and it is difficult to interpret the information that applies to cruise passengers on each countrys' official websites.  Please let us know if/what online forms need to be completed and if testing is required within 2-3 days of visiting any of these ports.

 

Have a great cruise!  Wish we were there.....

Our first COVID-19 test will be tomorrow morning in Club fusion.  It will be the rapid antigen test.  Should we test positive, we will have a PCR test to confirm.  Next test will be Oct. 24th.

[1emerald1]

3 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

Rui Pereira....

Thank you.

[DistinguishedCruiser]

Will the Emerald have a Chef's Table on this cruise?

 

Is Vines operational?

 

Is the fitness center open?

 

don

bon Voyage...

[Grego]

16 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

Rui Pereira....

Yeah!!!!  I wonder if Carlos from Portugal is still on Rui's team as a head waiter?

We are excited to be with Rui again.

[CruiserRob]

Playing trivia in club fusion yesterday and the host reminded us that we were in a sip and cover venue and we should wear masks if we were not actively sipping.

[CruiserRob]

16 hours ago, DistinguishedCruiser said:

Will the Emerald have a Chef's Table on this cruise?

 

Is Vines operational?

 

Is the fitness center open?

 

don

bon Voyage...

Vines is operating and the fitness Center is open.

have not heard anything about Chef’s Table 

[Steelers36]

26 minutes ago, CruiserRob said:

Vines is operating and the fitness Center is open.

have not heard anything about Chef’s Table 

No one would actually "hear" about Chef's Table unless inquired early to be on the list and then subsequently contacted.

[gmcwalker]

35 minutes ago, CruiserRob said:

Will the Emerald have a Chef's Table on this cruise?

 

We spoke to Riu at our CC meet up on sail away day and he said if he gets enough people interested he will try to talk the Executive chef into doing it and if so however it will not include the galley part of the experience due to Covid protocols.

[Bgwest]